‘Look In The Mirror’: Jamie Benn, Glen Gulutzan Demanded A Response Before Dallas Stars Fell Again To Montreal Canadiens
DALLAS — Two days after Jamie Benn said the Dallas Stars had to look in the mirror, they lost again. The Montreal Canadiens beat Dallas 5-2 on Thursday night at American Airlines Center behind 2 goals each from Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook.
That followed a 5-1 home loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday that ended Dallas’ five-game winning streak. New Jersey outshot the Stars 27-18 and finished with a 60-38 edge in shot attempts. Dallas is 7-5-1 with 15 points.
Jamie Benn And Glen Gulutzan On The Devils Loss
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said after Tuesday’s game that Dallas had come out flat. The Stars won 28 of 52 faceoffs, but they managed 18 shots on New Jersey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck in his first start with the Devils.
“We didn’t win a battle all night,” Gulutzan said. “It wasn’t one guy, we were littered with guys like that. We couldn’t get our footing and once they smelled the blood in the water they turned it up a little bit. That’s a good hockey team over there. Again, the spread in that game was that we were poor and they were a good team and they were good tonight.”
Justin Hryckowian scored Dallas’ only goal, his second in as many games. The penalty kill stopped all 3 New Jersey power plays. Gulutzan called it Dallas’ worst game of the season.
“It’s concerning, but it’s less concerning when it’s everybody,” Gulutzan explained. “It was from the top-down on our team. We have to look at ourselves and ask what we did in the last few days that we would come out that flat. It was lopsided, they brought their A-game, and we brought a C-game and that’s what happens.”
Benn, the Stars captain, said Dallas stunk Tuesday and the Devils were good. He did not want the result brushed aside with two games left on the homestand.
“I think you’ve got to look in the mirror and figure out why the result was what it was,” Benn said. “Then come back and make sure it’s only one.”
Gulutzan Cancels Practice Before Montreal Canadiens Hand Dallas Stars A Second Straight Loss
Dallas had an optional practice planned for Wednesday. Gulutzan canceled it and sent players home to rest.
“The decision today is we skated Saturday, we played Sunday, we skated Monday and played Tuesday, so now you’re four days on the ice,” Gulutzan said. “So once you get past four, you’re looking for a day off. This is a day that, to be honest with you, we were hoping we could win and give it off, but as much as you want your players to be emotionally responsible, you have to be emotionally responsible, too. Bringing them in and skating them was not going to make them better, in our minds.”
Gulutzan was rehired for a second stint as Dallas coach on July 1, 2025. He said Wednesday a team can learn even more from losses than from wins.
“That game, we weren’t good,” Gulutzan said. “The (second) period was the worst period I’ve seen the guys play in my 100 games here. That’s on all of us to look at our emotional response there. It’s our job as a coaching staff to recognize those storm clouds and reverse the trap, so it’s a learning thing for everyone.”
Roope Hintz entered Thursday with 5 goals and 5 assists in 12 games. He did not want the Devils loss tossed aside.
“We don’t want to get those bad nights because every game is important,” Hintz said. “So we just want to get what we can from this game and bring that against Montreal.”
Montreal scored twice in 27 seconds late in the first period Thursday to take a 3-1 lead. Wyatt Johnston scored on the power play, and Benn scored in the second period for his second goal of the season. Jake Oettinger stopped 16 of 20 shots, and the 4 goals were the most he has allowed in a game this season.
Dallas entered Thursday allowing a league-low 2.0 goals per game and has now given up 5 goals in consecutive games. The Stars close the homestand Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at American Airlines Center, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. CT on Prime Video.
